The moment was already set for Dodgers lore.

Walker Buehler struts off the Yankee Stadium mound with his arms outstretched, having just clinched a World Series title with his signature knuckle curveball.

Now the scene will also be a farewell image for Buehler’s outstanding tenure at the club.

As Yahoo Sports first reported, Buehler agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox on Monday, officially ending a seven-year run with the Dodgers that included tantalizing success (two All-Star selections, two World Series). titles and the fourth-best ERA in the majors from 2018 to 2021), injury-plagued lows (including two Tommy John surgeries that derailed his emergence as the Dodgers’ next great player). ace) and a fitting final act, with Buehler’s iconic save in Game 5 of the World Series being his final game in a Dodgers jersey.

It’s a departure that had been expected for most of this year, as Buehler struggled greatly in the regular season after returning from his second Tommy John procedure.

But despite his 1-6 record and career-worst ERA of 5.38, Buehler snuck into the Dodgers’ postseason rotation amid a spate of other pitching injuries and performed in ways even he didn’t quite expect . Four shutout innings in a win in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Five flawless images in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. And then, on just one day of rest, a 16-pitch relief appearance to cap off a championship.

For the first time in three years, Bühler’s once dominant form returned.

And for a moment, a path appeared to be emerging for the impending free agent to re-sign with Los Angeles.

“What Walker has done, what he has done for us, what he has done for us this year, his teammates, that is not lost on us,” general manager Brandon Gomes said last month.

Unfortunately, the chances of such a reunion were all but eliminated in the first week of the offseason when the Dodgers decided not to give the 30-year-old right-hander a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer.

This move allowed Buehler to hit the open market without the burden of a draft pick penalty. And as the Dodgers looked elsewhere to bolster their rotation – they signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a $182 million contract and remained in the sweepstakes for the 23-year-old Japanese star- Pitcher Roki Sasaki – it became clear Buehler was unlikely to fit into their 2025 plans.

“I think there’s no better way for me to do this,” Buehler said on the eve of the Fall Classic when asked about whether 2024 might be his final season with the Dodgers, “than after hopefully a successful World Series.”

The Dodgers’ decision not to offer Buehler a QO – which meant virtually the same amount he would reportedly receive from the Red Sox – was met with some surprise in the industry.

In a vacuum, Buehler’s regular-season performance might not have warranted such a payday. The dark history of the two-time Tommy John pitcher also increased the risk.

Nonetheless, Buehler was perhaps the best homegrown success story of this Dodgers baseball era, evolving from a first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt in 2017 to an integral member of the club’s 2020 and 2024 championship teams.

This year’s October heroics had rekindled the fan base’s love for the ever-confident veteran pitcher, evidenced by the loud reception he received at the team’s championship parade last month when he donned the vintage Orel Hersisher jersey – a long-time mentor of his within the organization – wore. had worn in the 1988 World Series.

At various points leading up to this offseason, Buehler had expressed a desire to remain in Los Angeles, saying before the World Series, “I’m very happy to be a Los Angeles Dodger and I would love to stay here as long as I can.” will have me.

However, Buehler indicated even then that the team’s QO decision would likely determine his chances of returning.

“The first step in all of these things is the team,” he said of his impending free agency. “And that will happen very quickly either way.”

While the Dodgers remained open to bringing Buehler back, even after refusing to offer him a QO, market dynamics seemed increasingly likely to lead to a split instead. Because Beuhler didn’t receive a QO, other teams weren’t forced to give up a draft pick to sign him. And as a talented arm with an excellent postseason track record, he became an intriguing option for contenders looking to round out their rotations.

While he may have been a superfluous addition to a Dodgers team that is already well over the top luxury tax threshold and will have Shohei Ohtani, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin back from injuries next season, Buehler could now be a missing player for a playoff-hungry Red Sox, who finished five games out of the American League wild-card position last season.

“In the last few months,” Buehler said amid his postseason resurgence, “I’ve gotten my confidence up a little bit, to the point that there’s going to be some teams that want me on their team.” I feel like a major league starting pitcher, whether here or elsewhere.”

On Monday, the latter officially became a reality.

Walker Buehler is no longer a Dodger. The curveball that won him the championship will be the lasting memory of his time with the team.

“I’ve played here my whole career, I love playing here,” Buehler said during the World Series. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”